US Representative Frank J. Mrvan: Improving NWI’s Economic Assets Is Our Common Goal | Northwest Indiana Commercial Securities

Throughout my career as a public servant, I have sought opportunities to bring our communities together and support all individuals and families in need. Northwest Indiana has many incredible economic and infrastructural assets, and I commend The Times of Northwest Indiana for creating this opportunity to highlight our inherent strengths and abilities that allow our communities to continue to grow. and to thrive.

One of the fundamental strengths of Northwest Indiana is the workforce of the manufacturing, oil and steel industries, which have been central to our way of life since the arrival of John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie and JP Morgan in our region at the turn of the 20th century. . Their investments along the shores of Lake Michigan have propelled our economic strength and created diverse communities throughout our region for over 100 years. Today, as Co-Chair of the Congressional Steel Caucus, I work every day to leverage this strength to ensure we compete on a level playing field in our global economy.

Unfortunately, our nation’s trade policies and lack of infrastructure investment over the past decades contribute to today’s supply chain and inflationary challenges. I voted for the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to help address these concerns, and I am pleased that it has been signed into law and is expected to make much-needed improvements to our transportation infrastructure, including our airports, public transportation, and the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbour.

For all of these investments, I’m proud that this law also strengthened Buy America requirements that ensure American iron, steel, and manufactured goods will be used. American taxpayer dollars should be used to support domestic manufacturing and American workers, and this law will put organized labor members to work and have a tangible economic impact.

Indiana’s First Congressional District is home to three municipal airports, including Gary/Chicago International Airport. These entities will receive federal resources from the IIJA to increase safety and support investments in runways, taxiways and overall sustainability.

Commuter rail and public transit are essential to continued growth and improving the quality of life in Northwest Indiana. The ongoing West Lake Corridor project and the Double Track project on the South Shore line will bring new people, new businesses and well-paying jobs to our region. We are already seeing the benefits of new construction and transit-oriented developments taking place along the rail system. The IIJA will support federal Department of Transportation programs that fund these projects, and I look forward to continuing to work with municipalities and state and local stakeholders to leverage the availability of these federal resources to improve the quality of life in northwest Indiana.

Additionally, the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor is an economic engine for our region and supports the livelihoods of thousands of longshoremen and manufacturing workers in our industrial corridor. The IIJA will support its efficiency and continued operations, as more needs to be done to ensure that our port waters are thoroughly dredged, which in turn will improve economic activity and the quality of life for all businesses and workers. of our region.

Additionally, through the IIJA, the EPA is taking steps to address the legacy costs of past industrial polluters by cleaning up and restoring the water quality of the Grand Calumet River and the Great Lakes. The Grand Calumet River was once treated as an industrial waste stream, and federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding will be used to deliver significant environmental, economic, health and recreational benefits to communities in the region. of the Great Lakes.

Our unique environmental landscape must be preserved and enhanced to improve our quality of life while opening up new economic opportunities. I remain grateful that my friend and predecessor, Congressman Pete Visclosky, allowed our Indiana Dunes to become a national park. Governor Holcomb and many Northwestern Indiana entities are building on his action by using federal resources under the United States Rescue Plan (ARP) to improve access to our coastline and biodiversity. The $50 million Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) grant will further connect our region through an improved trail network and continue to make Northwest Indiana a magnet for talent and economic growth.

In closing, as a public servant concerned with improving our quality of life, I believe that our priority must always be above all the health and safety of people. COVID-19 has presented challenges for all of us, and I continue to be mindful of those we have lost during this difficult time and the importance of having resources and a coordinated response to public health challenges.

I’m proud that one of my very first votes in Congress was for ARP, which used the full weight of our federal and state partnership, facilitated a national immunization plan, and provided resources for families, to small businesses, religious institutions and public schools. Notably, the Indiana National Guard hosted a federal vaccination site in Gary, where it administered over 60,000 vaccinations. I remain forever grateful to the first responders, healthcare workers and all workers who selflessly served the public during the pandemic, who embody the strength of our region that has gotten us through this difficult time. With their valiant support, the economic strengths of our workforce, our transportation system and our environmental landscape will continue to create a bright and positive future and quality of life for all of our region’s residents.